NOR-MARtm ENTERPRISES 1948 PLYMOUTH SPECIAL DELUXE, CLUB COUPE RESTORATION

United We Stand

Divided We Fall

THIS IS THE WAY IT LOOKED AFTER BEING UNLOADED BY THE FLATBED TOW TRUCK AND BEING HOSED DOWN.  THE CAR RAN (A LITTLE), BUT HAD NO BRAKES.  JUNE 1995.

HAVE COMPLETELY GUTTED THE INTERIOR, EXCEPT FOR THE DASH.  FLOOR NEEDS SOME REPAIR FIRST.  AT THE SAME TIME, WILL BE REPLACING THE ROCKER PANELS.  IN ADDITION, HAVE REMOVED THE LEFT REAR FENDER FOR REPLACEMENT.  WILL HAVE PICTURES SHOWING PROGRESS AS THE WORK IS BEING DONE SOON.  SO FAR, SEATS WERE IN GOOD SHAPE, SO DECIDED TO HAVE THEM CLEANED AND DISINFECTED BY A LOCAL DETAIL SHOP TO GET RID OF THE OLD CAR SMELL.  HAVE ROLLED AND TUCKED INTERIOR KIT TO INSTALL AND NEW HEADLINER.  NONE OF THIS WORK IS TO BE FARMED OUT.

CHASSIS - REBUILDING THE OLD WHEEL CYLINDERS WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.   REPLACED ALL WHEEL CYLINDERS WITH NEW ONES FROM KANTER AUTO PARTS.    WAS NOT HAPPY WITH DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE OLD ORIGINAL BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER REPLACING ALL THE WHEEL CYLINDERS.  THE CAR STOPPED OK, BUT JUST TOOK TOO LONG IN TODAY'S CITY TRAFFIC.   CONVERTED TO FRONT DISC BRAKES USING A KIT FROM ECI, WHICH IS A BOLT ON CONVERSION FALL OF 2005.   HAVE ALSO CONVERTED THE OLD 16" WHEELS DOWN TO 15" WHEELS, USING COKER BIAS PLY 15" TIRES.  DUE TO CONVERTING THE BRAKES IT WAS REQUIRED THAT I REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEELS.  REPLACED THOSE WITH NEW PRIMED WHEELS FROM WHEEL VINTIQUE, PURCHASED THROUGH COKER TIRE.

BODY & INTERIOR - REPLACED BAD SECTIONS OF THE FLOOR AND THE ROCKER PANELS.   INSTALLED NEW INTERIOR KIT AFTER MAKING NEW DOOR AND SIDE PANELS.   ALL DOOR PANELS AND SIDE PANELS WERE DESIGNED AND SEWN AT HOME.  KICK PANELS HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED TO MATCH THE DOOR AND SIDE PANELS.  ALSO INSTALLED NEW CARPET IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR.   HEADLINER WILL BE INSTALLED SOON.  WILL HAVE TO REPRODUCE A NEW HEADLINER FASTENING STRIP FOR OVER THE LEFT  DOOR PRIOR TO INSTALLING HEADLINER.  THE ORIGINAL ONE IS COMPLETE, BUT IS NOT IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.   HAVE REMOVED THE FULTON SUNVISOR AND WILL LEAVE IT OFF.   INSTALLED NEW FRONT BUMPER.  REMOVED BUMPER GUARDS, FRONT GRILL AND TRUNK GUARDS FOR A CLEANER LOOK.   REPLACED HOOD ORNAMENT WITH NEW REPLATED ONE.  ALSO REPLACED CENTER STOP LIGHT BEZEL AND BOTH TAIL LIGHT BEZELS WITH REPLATED BEZELS.

ENGINE - CONVERTED ORIGINAL OIL BATH AIR CLEANER TO PAPER FILTER AIR CLEANER.  THIS USED THE SAME ORIGINAL AIR CLEANER HOUSING.  DID NOT CHANGE THE LOOKS OF IT FROM THE OUTSIDE.  ALSO BY PASSED THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP TO A BELLOWS 6 VOLT ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP.  THIS MADE THE CAR A LOT EASIER TO START AFTER SITTING FOR A LONG TIME.

WORK TO BE DONE NOW IS ONLY SOME MINOR BODY REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE PRIOR TO PAINTING.  INSTALLING THE HEADLINER AND RECOVERING THE INSIDE SUNVISORS.   SUNVISOR RECOVERING WILL ALSO BE DONE AT HOME.  HAVE ALREADY STARTED THIS PROJECT AND WILL ADD TO THE INTERIOR SECTION OF THIS SITE WHEN FINISHED.   THIS WILL INCLUDE PICTURES OF HOW IT WAS DONE.   WILL ALSO INCLUDE PICTURES OF THE NEW HEADLINER FASTENING STRIP OVER THE DOOR AND HOW IT WAS MADE, WHEN DONE.

SINCE BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S MORE FUN TO DRIVE THAN WORK ON.  THEREFORE, THINGS NEEDING TO BE FINISHED WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO DO.   SO, IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE ANY NEW  PROGRESS IS POSTED HERE OR ON OTHER PAGES.

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